The Latest: Lima Group urges Venezuela troops to let aid in

MADRID (AP) — The latest on Venezuela's political crisis (all times local): 12:20 a.m. A coalition of Western Hemisphere nations is urging Venezuela's military to allow badly needed food and medicine to enter the country as the bloc pushes for a peaceful transition of power in the South American nation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland and Peru's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nestor Francisco Popolizio Bardales hold a closing news conference with members of the Lima Group following the 10th ministerial meeting of the organization in Ottawa on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself the interim president of Venezuela, speaks during a press conference on the steps of the National Assembly in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Feb. 4, 2019. Germany, Spain, France, the U.K. and Sweden have announced that they are recognizing Guaido as the country's interim president and are urging him to hold a new presidential election.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani speaks during a news conference at the foreign press association in Rome, Monday Feb. 4, 2019. A key group of European Union countries has endorsed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's interim president, piling the pressure on embattled President Nicolas Maduro to resign and let the country hold a new presidential election.

A demonstrator take control of a truck to block a highway after a demonstration demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. Momentum is growing for Venezuela's opposition movement led by Guaido, who has called supporters back into the streets for nationwide protests Saturday, escalating pressure on Maduro to step down.

February 05, 2019

The call came Monday from the Lima Group, which is made up of nearly a dozen conservative Latin American nations and Canada. It has led the push to recognize opposition lawmaker Juan Guaido as Venezuela's rightful leader and seeks ways to remove President Nicolas Maduro.

The coalition met Monday in Ottawa and issued a declaration saying Venezuela's soldiers must show loyalty to Guaido. The group also said the United Nations and the international community should be ready to step in with humanitarian assistance for Venezuela.

Further, the bloc dismissed the idea of opening negotiations with Maduro, who has used past talks as a stalling tactic.

9:50 p.m.

The interim government challenging Venezuelan socialist Nicolas Maduro says it will hold an international conference to seek emergency humanitarian assistance at the headquarters of the Organization of American States in Washington.

Carlos Vecchio was recently designated as ambassador to Washington by the interim government headed by the opposition leader Juan Guaido and he says that governments, private sector and civil society representatives will attend the Feb. 14 conference

Dozens of countries have now recognized Guaido as interim president, but many others back Maduro, who holds practical power in the country.

At least 3 million Venezuelans have left their country due to an acute shortage of medicines and food.

8:30 p.m.

Poland and Croatia have joined at least 14 other other European Union nations in recognizing Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela.

Croatia's Foreign Ministry says in a statement Monday that it "strongly condemns the breach of human rights and the rule of law" by Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro.

Guaidio is the head of the opposition-led National Assembly and declared himself Venezuela's legitimate ruler on Jan. 23.

7:25 p.m.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he has been in contact with supporters of the rival initiatives to deal with the Venezuela crisis and has decided the United Nations won't be part of any of them.

He told reporters Monday that he took the decision "in order to give credibility to our continued offer of good offices to the parties to be able at their request to help find a political solution."

Guterres said he has been following the evolution of the situation in Venezuela with "a lot of concern."

The presidents of Mexico and Uruguay have offered to negotiate between socialist President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has been recognized by many nations in Europe and the Americas as the country's legitimate leader. But Guaido rejected the offer.

7 p.m.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani is pressing Italy's populist government to side with other EU countries on Venezuela.

He told reporters Monday in Rome that Italy's coalition government should heed the words of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who earlier in the day urged Italy to adopt a shared position with EU partners and allies.

Italy's squabbling government coalition hasn't joined them, instead calling for reconciliation and new and free elections in Venezuela.

Tajani slammed the Italian government position as "very grave" and urged it to follow Mattarella's "very clear' message for EU unity on Venezuela's political crisis.

6:30 p.m.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will give $53 million in humanitarian aid for Venezuelans who he says are living under a "dictatorship willing to use force and fear" to maintain its power.

He says the money will go to "trusted partners in neighboring countries to help them support Venezuela and Venezuelans."

The announcement came during a meeting in Ottawa of the Lima Group that includes countries from the Americas that oppose socialist President Nicolas Maduro and recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate interim leader.

Two dozen foreign affairs ministers, ambassadors and other officials from the Americas and Europe were taking part.

4:55 p.m.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido is calling on Western nations to continue applying pressure to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

He made his comments in a video message ahead of a meeting in Ottawa by the Lima Group, a group of countries from the Americas that oppose Maduro and recognize Guaido as the country's legitimate interim leader.

Guaido said that Venezuelans are still under a dictatorship and that it is becoming increasingly important to apply pressure on Maduro.

Two dozen foreign affairs ministers, ambassadors and other officials from the Americas and Europe heard Guaido's message while gathered in Ottawa to define the terms of their opposition to the Maduro regime.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $53 million in new humanitarian aid for the Venezuelan people.

3 p.m.

The Czech Republic has joined other European Union nations in recognizing Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela.

The Czech center-left government approved the move on Monday after it was proposed by Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek.

Guaido is also supported by the United States and most South American nations.

The head of the opposition-led National Assembly declared himself Venezuela's legitimate ruler on Jan. 23.

2:35 p.m.

President Nicolas Maduro is again rejecting moves by at least eight European nations recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate president.

Germany, Britain and France are among the nations that announced support for Guaido on Monday. The EU nations say Maduro's election was fraudulent and that he ignored their deadline to announce a new round of democratic presidential elections.

Maduro was especially harsh on Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a fellow socialist. Maduro said Sanchez would have "blood on his hands" if a coup is carried out against him.

In a live address on state television, Maduro said he refuses ultimatums from any country.

Maduro also rejected a U.S.-backed effort to send emergency food and medicine into his country, saying Venezuela isn't a nation of beggars.

Guaido meanwhile used Twitter to express gratitude to the EU leaders for supporting what he called Venezuela's fight for freedom.

2 p.m.

A senior Canadian official says the country will announce new humanitarian assistance for countries most affected by the Venezuelan refugee crisis.

The official says the announcement will come Monday at a meeting of nations that have recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president of his crisis-torn country.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland are hosting the meeting of the Lima Group, a regional bloc of 13 countries that have been vocal in denouncing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The official says Venezuela will need substantive international support because the economic and social reconstruction effort in the country will be monumental.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authorization to discuss it before an official announcement.

— From Rob Gillies in Toronto

1:35 p.m.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says in an Italian TV interview that he has written to Pope Francis asking for help in fostering dialogue.

Maduro said in the interview with Sky TG24 that he hopes the letter is in route or has reached the Vatican.

In the interview conducted at a military base, Maduro describes himself as being "in the service of Christ's cause and in this spirit" he has asked Francis to "facilitate and reinforce" dialogue with his "best effort, his willingness."

Maduro added he was hoping for a "positive response."

He appealed to Europe not to be "dragged along by the craziness" of President Donald Trump in raising the possibility of a foreign intervention.

Maduro had ignored several European nations' call for new elections.

12:30 p.m.

The Netherlands and Austria have joined other European countries in recognizing Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president.

Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok says in a tweet that he made the call after an eight-day deadline for Venezuela to call free and fair elections expired. Blok said Monday the Dutch "want freedom and democracy to return to Venezuela asap."

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced the decision in a Spanish-language tweet on Monday after President Nicolas Maduro ignored an ultimatum to call a new election.

Kurz said Guaido, who heads the opposition-controlled National Assembly, has "our full support in his efforts to re-establish democracy in Venezuela."

12 noon

French President Emmanuel Macron says he recognizes opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela and urges him to hold a new presidential election shortly.

Macron also declared that Venezuelans "have the right to express themselves freely and democratically."

Moments after Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said France is recognizing Guaido, Macron posted a message on Twitter on Monday to express his support for the head of the Venezuelan congress.

At least eight other European nations did the same on Monday after current Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro defied their call to resign and hold a new vote. Sweden said the vote that brought Maduro to power was not free or fair.

11:40 p.m.

Germany has joined other European nations in recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president.

Germany and several other countries in the European Union had given Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government an eight-day deadline to call a new presidential election. That ultimatum expired on Sunday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a visit to Japan on Monday that Guaido "is the legitimate interim president."

Germany joins Spain, Britain, France, Sweden, Austria, Denmark and Lithuania in recognizing Guaido on Monday. He also has the support of Washington and most South American nations.

Guaido, who heads the opposition-led National Assembly, declared himself Venezuela's legitimate ruler on Jan. 23.

11:10 a.m.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is remaining defiant amid European Union pressure to stand down and is accusing the United States of preparing a coup in the South American country.

Maduro told Spanish TV channel La Sexta in an interview broadcast late Sunday that he "accepts ultimatums from nobody," amid demands by some EU countries that opposition leader Juan Guaido take over.

The Trump administration has also backed Guaido, after he declared himself the interim president of Venezuela on Jan. 23.

Maduro says "the military option is on (U.S. President) Donald Trump's table."

He accuses the U.S. of "wanting to return to the 20th century of military coups, subordinate puppet governments and the looting of resources."

Washington recently imposed sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports in an effort to undermine Maduro's main source of income and weaken his grip on power

In an interview Monday with Swedish broadcaster SVT, Wallstrom said Venezuelans "now must get new, free and fair elections instead."

She said "we support and consider Juan Guaido and the National Assembly as the only legitimate representatives of the Venezuelan people" — a move made by several European Union nations on Monday.

Wallstrom also says "Venezuela is a country in disrepair. There is a lack of food and medicines, it's (facing) inflation and mass demonstrations."

Guaido declared himself Venezuela's legitimate ruler on Jan. 23 and has the support of Washington and most South American nations.

10:40 a.m.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says his government is endorsing Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela and is urging him to call a presidential election as soon as possible.

Sanchez on Monday carried out his threat to recognize Guaido's leadership if embattled President Nicolas Maduro hadn't called a presidential election by Sunday.

Other European Union countries followed suit, a week after the European Parliament has called on the EU's member states to recognize Guaido as Venezuela's interim president.

Spain has strong historical, cultural and economic ties to Venezuela, and its support for Guaido is a diplomatic blow to Maduro.

Sanchez says, "we are working for the return of full democracy in Venezuela: human rights, elections and no more political prisoners."

He says Spain is also working on a humanitarian aid program for Venezuela.

10:25 a.m.

Britain has joined Sweden and France in recognizing Juan Guaido as the interim leader in Venezuela.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt says in a tweet that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had not called for a new presidential election within the eight-day time limit set.

He tweeted that the "UK alongside European allies now recognises @jguaido as interim constitutional president until credible elections can be held. Let's hope this takes us closer to ending humanitarian crisis."

Opposition leader Guaido declared himself Venezuela's legitimate ruler on Jan. 23, and has the support of Washington and most South American nations.

10:25 a.m.

Spain, France and Sweden have all announced that they are recognizing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's interim president and are urging him to hold a new presidential election.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters in Madrid on Monday that "we are working for the return of full democracy in Venezuela: human rights, elections and no more political prisoners."

In order to enable essential services and functionality on our site and to collect data on how visitors interact with our site, products and services we use tools such as cookies. By using our website, you agree to our use of these tools for advertising and analytics. More Info